Billion Dollar Hotel will Include Smart Elevators

Developers recently unveiled plans for the new Wilshire Grand Hotel and office tower, set to be built in downtown Los Angeles. The new building is set to have a futuristic look inside and out, standing tall at 1,100 feet. The new Wilshire Grand is set to be a “four star plus” hotel and will have many luxurious attractions.

The project is estimated to cost around one billion dollars and is set to open in 2017. One of the towers most interesting features will be its high tech elevator system. The office area will use an elevator system that has no buttons inside the cab. The elevator will know where you are going and know your typical daily schedule. Using an ID card system, the elevator will know exactly where you will be, when you will be there, and where you want to go. If you normally arrive at 8:15 AM, the elevator will be on the first floor waiting for you. What if you want to go another floor? Not an option with this elevator system, because the designers want you to register everything on your card, so the elevators can run more efficiently. The hotel guests can take advantage of the super-fast elevators that will bring them to any floor, even the sky lobby on the 70th floor, in no time at all.

The Wilshire Grand will have 900 hotel rooms and 400,000 square feet of office space with floor-to-ceiling glass. While it may not be a favorite feature to those afraid of heights, it will allow 24/7 views of the skyline and allow for an abundance of natural light. The building will also feature a sky lobby and restaurant that is 70 stories from the ground. Above that will be an infinity pool and bar with an open air garden.

The building’s height of 1,100 feet will make it the tallest building west of the Mississippi River, taking over the top spot of its neighbor the U.S. Bank building. It will be replacing the Wilshire Grand building that previously closed its doors in December of 2011. It will still be owned and developed by the same company, Korean Air.